Mark Bell not going to prison?

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

From Maple Leafs.com -

"Goalie Vesa Toskala, who Wilson had last year in San Jose, is a keeper. With the prospect of jail no longer looming, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Mark Bell come back and score 20 goals, that is if Fletcher can see past his injury-filled four-goal, 35 game season."

Did I miss something?

Edited June 10, 2008 by Hockeytown0001

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

He was never going to prison

[Guest redwingsfan04]

common no one ever goes to jail these days

[Opie 308]

http://www.totaldui.com/dui_articles_mark_bell_dui.htm

By entering the no contest plea, Bell avoided possible California DUI penalties of up to three years and eight months in prison. As part of his settlement, Bell will not have to miss any time during the hockey season. He will spend six months in a Santa Clara County Jail, possibly over two summers, in a move that was designated to not hurt his career. The NHL season typically lasts from October to early June.

The fact that this settlement was reached so that the 27-year-old Bell's career would not be impacted leaves a lot to be desired. If Bell wasn't a professional athlete, would he have been able to get such a break?

Edited June 10, 2008 by Opie

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

My mistake. I remembered that he was to serve 6 months in jail/prison at the conclusion of this season, I thought it would carry over into this season. But...having the jail time "not affect his career"? Like the article says, would he be given that grace if he weren't a pro athlete?

[OsGOD 3]

My mistake. I remembered that he was to serve 6 months in jail/prison at the conclusion of this season, I thought it would carry over into this season. But...having the jail time "not affect his career"? Like the article says, would he be given that grace if he weren't a pro athlete?

my career is M-F 9-5 with some saturdays... does that mean if I go to jail i can get it weekends and nights as to not affect my career.... oh also sometime I work at night from home... on those nights I don't have to go to the slammer either right?

Me thinks he would not get said treatment if he wasn't worth a million or two

Edited June 10, 2008 by OsGOD

[Bannedforlife 403]

my career is M-F 9-5 with some saturdays... does that mean if I go to jail i can get it weekends and nights as to not affect my career.... oh also sometime I work at night from home... on those nights I don't have to go to the slammer either right?

Me thinks he would not get said treatment if he wasn't worth a million or two

Yes, it is possible for your lawyer to work out a deal that would allow you be released from jail every morning to go to work and then return back to jail for the evening. Of course it depends on your crime, but in this case, DUI, its more than likely an option.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Bell has report to prison every morning and works for like 50 cents an hour or whatever and then goes home at night and repeats the process every day.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

He has to do it in the summer time, but will be out in time for training camp with Toronto.

[omnipotent_hudler 0]

common no one ever goes to jail these days

w..what?

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

w..what?

I'm sure he's referring to celebrities of today who seemingly manage to escape punishment that other "normal" people would get.

[MacK_Attack 108]

He has to do it in the summer time, but will be out in time for training camp with Toronto.

I'd say there's a pretty good chance he's one of the three buyouts.

[katiephd 0]

I have zero tolerance for this bullsh*t. Not to get too personal on an online forum, but I've lost three close friends in the past four years to drunk driving accidents. I realize that may taint my rationality on this subject, but people should pay for this kind of behavior. In ways that won't allow them to forget.

On that note, I was so happy to see the Bears release Benson this week. I don't think there's any excuse for driving (and boating!) under the influence, but especially not when you can more than afford to have someone drive your drunk ass around.

Edited June 11, 2008 by katiephd

[wingsdiehard13 33]

I have zero tolerance for this bullsh*t. Not to get too personal on an online forum, but I've lost three close friends in the past four years to drunk driving accidents. I realize that may taint my rationality on this subject, but people should pay for this kind of behavior. In ways that won't allow them to forget.

On that note, I was so happy to see the Bears release Benson this week. I don't think there's any excuse for driving (and boating!) under the influence, but especially not when you can more than afford to have someone drive your drunk ass around.

Off topic: However, innocent until proven guilty. In fact, A member on Benson's boat claimed she was scared for Benson because of the way he was being treated. The cops could be more in the wrong than Benson.

Anyways, back to the original topic.... Sorry OP

[Hiei 192]

On that note, I was so happy to see the Bears release Benson this week. I don't think there's any excuse for driving (and boating!) under the influence, but especially not when you can more than afford to have someone drive your drunk ass around.

It was either that or at the end of this year when he would still be sucking for a #4 overall pick...Good Riddance. We've got other guys who want to play on this TEAM. Peterson, Wolfe, and FORTE.

Later Ced, Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out

[sjradio 0]

If he plays for the Leafs again... It will be like going to prison.

[55fan 5,133]

If he plays for the Leafs again... It will be like going to prison.

Not really. Prisoners are sometimes still around after the beginning of April.

[Happy Pancake 6]

my career is M-F 9-5 with some saturdays... does that mean if I go to jail i can get it weekends and nights as to not affect my career.... oh also sometime I work at night from home... on those nights I don't have to go to the slammer either right?

Me thinks he would not get said treatment if he wasn't worth a million or two

I dunno, I have a friend who has had trouble staying on the right side of the law but he was able to show the judge that he was doing very well in his courses and that he would fail all the classes if he were put in jail during the semester. As a result the judge let him serve his time only on the weekends so he could still attend school.

[Inultus 12]

I dunno, I have a friend who has had trouble staying on the right side of the law but he was able to show the judge that he was doing very well in his courses and that he would fail all the classes if he were put in jail during the semester. As a result the judge let him serve his time only on the weekends so he could still attend school.

And my friend who got a DUI had to serve a number of days in jail but he did it on "work-release" meaning that he went there right after he got out of work, stayed the night there and then went into work the next day. This is common practice with judges as they don't want you to lose your job unless you REALLY screw up.

DUIs are so common that most of them don't consider it REALLY screwing up.

And my condolences to the poster who lost friends due to drunk driving...however, MADD is out of control in this country and everyone trying to lower the limits to .06 and all of this BS really pisses me off. If they enact that, I won't legally be able to let one of my customers drive after ONE drink. Not to mention that I live in the wintery state of Michigan and they are trying to force me to make all my customers smoke outside.

Back to the original subject, Bell was looking at 6 months for hit and run. If he's a first time offender, that's not out of the ordinary, and they don't send people to prison for short stints (usually anything under a year). That varies from state to state though.